Belt-shifting device



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l. A. M. DOLPI-I.

BELT SHIPTING DEVICE. No. 372,523. Patented Nov. 1, 1887.

I III (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. M. DOLPH.

BELT SHIFTING DEVICE.

Patented NOV. 1. 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

ALEXANDER M. DOLPH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

BELT-SHIFTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 372,523, dated November 1, 1887.

Application filed Novcmbc1'2'i.1886. Serial No. 320,080.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER M. DOLPH, a resident of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt Shifting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My device is for the purpose of automatically shifting belts and in this way reversing the direction in which an operating shaft turns. It is especially adapted for use with some forms of washing-machines, but may be used with other machines requiring a similar automatic reversalsuch, for instance, as plancrs, &c.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of my device. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is an elevation of that end of my device which is at the right hand in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a central longitudinal section of the device. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is an elevation of the front or outer side of the camplate. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a cross section through the reversing apparatus, taken at the dotted line 0; ac, Fig. 1. Fig. 6, Sheet 2, shows in perspective that side of the cam-plate opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

S represents the shaft to which the device is attached and by which motion (power) is imparted to the washing-machine or other machine. The shaft S is provided with three belt wheels or pulleys, G, E, and O. The first of these, 0, is a loose pulley. The middle pulley, E, is tight, being secured in position by the set-screws e e. The third pulley,'C, is also a loose pulley. The hub of this pulley 0 projects outwardly, forming the sleeve D, which latter turns on the shaft S. The worm D is cast with the sleeve D or otherwise rigidly attached to it. The end of the shaft S is supported by a bracket or support, A, in the following manner: The bracket or support A terminates in the journal-bearing B, in which the head b of the bracket B rests. This head I) is cylindrical and is held in place by the cap I), the latter being secured by appropriate setscrews. The head I) is preferably provided with a collar, m, as shown, which assists in preventing it slipping through the bearing B. The bar S is journaled in the head I), so that it may be shifted lengthwise and rocked in its bearings. The bracket B projects upwardly (N0 mod cl.)

from the head b and is provided with the arms J J. The arms J J embrace between them the cam-plate II and gear-wheel G, and this cam-plate H and gear G are attached to the arms J J in the following manner: The geanwheel G is provided with an axle, G rigidly attached to it and projecting from one side of it. This axle is journaled on the lip J projecting from the arm J, and is secured in position by the cap 6". Attached rigidly to the opposite side of the gear-wheel G is a projecting lug, G, shaped as shown in Fig. 3. The reciprocating piece, which may be called a cam-plate, H, is preferably a flat plate, one of whose surfaces is provided with the irregularly-shaped depression H (shown in Figs. 4 and 5,) and the sides or walls h" of this depression constitute the walls of this cam H. In the shape of this depression attention must be called to the shoulders or corners h and h. \Vhen preferred, the plate portion of the cam which is at the back of the depression may be omitted, the Walls of the cam remaining. A flange, H, extends across the face of the cam H on the side opposite to the depression H and fits into a groove or slot in the arm J, as shown in Fig. 5. The upper edge of the cam H is preferably flared outwardly; but, whether flared or not, it is provided with the notch H \Vhen the cam II and wheel G are in position between the two arms J J, the lug G projects into the depression H as shown in Fig. 5. Instead of the particular cam mechanism herein described, any of the well-known forms of cam or similar devices may be employed to impart a reciprocating motion to the bar S.

An arm, B extends from the bracket B, and is provided at its end with a bearing, 1), a corresponding bearing b being located at the top of the bracket B. The bearings I) support the bar S, which latter operates directly the belt-shifting device. The wings B extend from the arm B They are provided with curved edges, which lead down to and from the notch N.

The attachments of the bar S are prcferabl y as follows; but the order of the arrangement of the various elements is not essential, as slight changes in the mechanism might necessitate slight changes in their position on the bar S. Commencing with the right-hand end of bar secured in place by the set-screw w".

S is a weight,' w, provided with thesleeve to, which latter is slipped onto the bar S, and t gen he finger F projects from the side of the bar S toward the wings B. The clutch F extends out on the opposite side of-the shaft and is held in position by the set-screw f. When the bar S is rotated to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, the clutch F fits in the notch H in the upper edge of plate H. The end of the bar S is swiveled in the thimble K. After embracing the wheel G and cam H, the arms J J are again bent at right angles and extend somewhat beyond the peripheral edge of the pulleys, as shown in'Fig. 2. From the end of each arm J J a rod, J", projects over the peripheral face or edge of the pulleys O E O. The curved rod K has its end furnished with the sleeves K". The sleeves fit onto the rods J andslip back and forth thereon. The rod K curves up over the pulleys and passes through the sleeve K, rigidly attached to the thimble K. The guid eloops K are clamped to the rod K by setscrews n, which enable them to be adj usted in any desired position. The loops K extend from the rod K in opposite directions, so that one has one belt passing through it and the other has the other belt passing through it. The belts R It run in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Instead of one rod K two separate rods, attached to the bar S, may be employed.

The mode of operation is as follows: As

shown in Fig. 1, the belt R (shown in dotted lines) is on the loose pulley O,and also on the tight pulley E, while the beltR(also shown in dotted lines) is on pulley C. In consequence the pulleys F/and G and shaft S turn in one direction with belt B, and pulley O, with sleeve D and worm D,turn in the opposite direction with belt R. The worm turns the gear-wheel G in the direction of the arrow. This movement throws the lug G over until it strikes the shoulder h of the depression lit of camplate II. This throws the cam-plate to the left, as shown in Fig. 1, and with it the clutch F, bar S, rod K, and the two belts R R. In this way the belt 1% is thrown off the pulley E, and the belt R is thrown onto it, reversing the direction of the pulley E and shaft S. The belt R still continues to turn the pulley 0, however, and in time the lug G strikes the shoulder or corner h and reverses the mechanism, bringing the belts into'the positions shown in Fig. 1. The weight w is so balanced as to keep the clutch F in position. If the weight to be turned to the other side, the clutch is released and the finger F is, by the mechanism described, forced into the notch N and brings the belts into the position shown in Fig. 3, where neither belt is on the tight pulley. In this position the bar S remains stationary; but the reversing mechanism continues to operate. If intervening mechanism should make it impossible to place the bracket A immediately under the shaft S, it may be otherwise convenientlylocated,and the bracket B still retain its upright position and be clamped by cap b. approach the pulleys obliquely or from anyother direction, the bracket B can be ad usted with reference to them. The weight to can also be adjusted to properly throw the clutch F. The loops K are also adjustable, to accommodate the various distances apart of the belts.

While the various features of my invention are preferably employed'together, one or more of said features may be employed without the remainder, and one or more of said features may, so far as applicable, be employed in conjunction with mechanism other than particularly herein specified.

hat I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the shaft S, pulleys G, E, and (l, the hub of the last being continuous with the sleeve D, provided with worm D, gear G, provided with lug G, reciprocating piece H, provided with walls h, notch H and bar S, provided with clutch F, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the shaft S, pulleys G, E, and G, the hub of the last being con tinuous with the sleeve D, provided with worm D, gear G, provided with lug G, reciprocating piece H, provided with walls It and notch H, bar S, provided with clutch F,

When the belts R and It and rod K, carrying guideloops K and rigidly attached to bar S, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of worm D and gear G, mounted on axle G and provided with lug G, engaging reciprocating piece H, the latter provided with flange H, sliding in an appropriate supporting'groove, substantially as set forth.

4.. In a beltshifting device, the combination of bracket A, provided with j ournal-head B, cap I), and bracket B, provided with head 12 this latter being bored to receive a shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. The bracket B, provided with head b and carrying devices for moving the belts sidewise, in combination with shaft S, carrying the pulleys and worm, said shaft being journaled in head I) and the bearing support B, and cap b, inclosing and holding said head b and enabling the bracket B, withits devices and the support A, to be set at any desired angle with reference to one another, substantiallyas set forth.

6. In a belt-shifting device, the wings B supported on a bracket and having a notch between them, the bar S, having fingers, clutch F, adapted to engage the reciprocating piece, and finger F, which rocks into the notch between the wings B rod- K, and loops supported by bar S, and the fast and loose pulso as to be shifted and rocked in its bearings, ing piece and the bar S, a finger on said bar,

a clutch, substantially as described, between wings projecting from the bracket and havthe reciprocating piece and the bar, a finger ing an inclined notch between them into on the bar, and wings on the bracket, supported which said finger maybe swung, andaweight r5 5 by the framemith which wings said finger may secured to bar S, so as to cause it to turn in engage, all in combination, substantially as its bearings, all in combination, substantially described. as set forth.

8. The drivingshaft and its fixed and loose ALEXANDER M. DOLPH. pulleys, the reciprocating piece actuated from \Vitnesses: IO said shaft, the bar S, having beltcontrolling O. M. HILL,

loops, a clutch intermediate the reciprocat- V. A. BARTLETT. 

